How to Protect your Benefits from Theft

There have been increased reports of criminals stealing customers’ benefits through card skimming, cloning, or similar fraudulent methods. 

Skimming is when criminals use a device placed over a point-of-sale card reader to steal information from payment cards like SNAP EBT cards. This means your SNAP or Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP) benefits could be stolen without you knowing. Cloning is when criminals transfer the data from the stolen card to a new card or rewrite an existing card with the information. Other similar fraudulent methods of obtaining EBT card data may include, but are not limited to, scamming through fraudulent phone calls or text messaging that mimic official state agency messaging and phishing.

While we cannot stop criminals from acting, we encourage all customers to be vigilant and take steps to educate themselves and protect their benefits and private information.

What steps should I take to help stop this?

Georgia DHS recommends anyone using an EBT card follow these steps to protect their benefits:

Protect your PIN

• Take the time now to change the personal identification number (PIN) for your EBT card.
• Avoid using high-risk PINs that may be easily identifiable such as 1234, 1111, etc., or a number sequence known to others, such as year of birth.
• Change your PIN after making an online purchase using your EBT card and PIN.
• Never share your EBT card number or PIN if asked through an email, text message, or over the phone. 
• Never write down your PIN, store it with the card or share it with any retailer or agency. DHS will never ask you for your PIN.
• When using your card at a card reader, cover the keypad with your body or hand to stop someone from seeing your PIN. Scammers sometimes try to get your PIN by watching from a distance. 
• SNAP customers should change their PIN often, especially before each scheduled benefit deposit.

Look for Skimming Devices

• Carefully look at any card reader before using your card. Skimming devices can be placed over the card reader. Check if a reader sticks out or doesn’t seem secure. 

Protect Your Sensitive Information

• Never share sensitive information with someone who has reached out to you without you inviting them to do so.
• Be wary of publicly posting information such as birthdays, a child or pet’s name, workplaces, where you grew up, and other personal historical information on social media. Doing so can let scammers successfully answer challenge questions and reset passwords on your accounts without needing to interact with you at all.

Other Protections

• DHS customers should maintain strong, unique passwords for their Georgia Gateway accounts and never share personal account information with anyone who is not a designated caregiver.
• Save DHS’ primary phone number 877-423-4746 in your phone contacts so that when you need to reach us, you’ll have the correct phone number immediately available to you.
• If you suspect that a call you receive is a scam, hang up and call DHS directly using the phone number you saved in your contacts.
• If you suspect that an email, text message, website, or social media page/account is a scam, don’t open any links or attachments that you see. Instead, call DHS directly OR go to our website – dhs.georgia.gov.

How do I change my PIN?

You can change your PIN by logging into your online account at connectebt.com/gaebtclient for SNAP (EBT cards). 

You can also call 1-888-421-3281 for SNAP (EBT) cards and follow the prompts to change your PIN.

What should I do if I suspect I’ve been phished?

If you think you’ve been the victim of a phishing scam involving your public benefits, please contact the DHS Office of Inspector General at [email protected] or 877-423-4746, option 4. Then, immediately change the passwords on any affected accounts and anywhere else you might use the same password. If you have lost money or believe you have been a victim of identity theft, please file a police report with your local law enforcement agency.

What should I do if my benefits have been stolen?

SNAP/D-SNAP benefits recipients can request replacement of stolen benefits up to two times a year until December 20, 2024. Recipients must report stolen benefits within 30 days of the suspected fraud to request a benefit replacement. For more information on requesting a benefit replacement, please visit dfcs.georgia.gov/snap-food-stamps/benefits-replacement-request.